Improvement in branding-stamps



T. F. TAYLOR.

BRANDIN'G STAMP.

Patented Jan. 9, 1877.

IVE NTU 32" WITNESSES,

N.PETER9, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON D C,

UNITEE STATEs PATENT QEEIOE THEODORE F. TAYLOR, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRANDING-STAMPS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 186,179, dated January9, 1877; application filed November 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE F. TAYLOR, of Richmond,'in the county ofHenrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Canceling Stamps and Checks; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for canceling stampsand checks; and it consists in a device to be used for canceling stamps,but more particularly for use in the prevention and detection of forgeryand chan ging denominations of drafts, checks, and all other valuabledocuments.

In carrying out my plan I use a face-plate that is placed on a planewith the face of the plunger, and secure the platinum wire to the faceof the plumger, on a facing of mica, by means of small loops of platinumwire, and have the connections to the battery so arranged that thecircuit is completed and the wire made red, hot before it touches thepaper.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, and Fig. 2 is a similar viewof the reverse side. Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the base of theplunger. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of the base.

a represents a suitable base, towhich an ordinary stamp, c, of anydesired construction, is secured, The base I) of the plunger d is madeof wood or other non-conducting material, up through which, to anysuitable distance, pass the two metallic rods e, which are placedsufficiently far apart to prevent the electricity from passing directlyfrom one to the other. At their upper ends these two rods are connectedto or come in contact with the two tips g h, which project out throughthe sides of the base, so as to receive the electricity from the twowires 5 j. The tip 9 has its wire 5 clamped to it by means of a screw,while the tip h, which projects from the opposite side of the base, isentirely disconnected from its wire 7', except when the plunger isdepressed. This wire j, unlike the other, is a spring, which is wrappedaround a non-conducting substance, I, so as to hold it in position, andpasses forward under the projection m, so as to hold its front enddepressed just below the tip it. In this position the circuit is broken,and remains so until the plunger is depressed, when the tip h comes incontact with the wire and completes the circuit. As soon as the plungeris thrown upward again by its spring the circuit is again broken. On theunder side of the base I) is secured a plate of ivory, bone, or othernon-conducting substance, n, and to the lower side of this plate issecured a plate of mica, s. Fastened to the face of this mica is a fineplatinum wire, 0, which may be arranged so as to form any figure,letter, monogram, or other device. This wire is here shown as bent intoa curved or zigzag shape, and is fastened to the face of the plate 8 bymeans of small loops 1, which have their ends in contact with the rods6. By flattening this wire 0, or making any peculiar marks upon it, itis evident that a means of detection is afl'orded that can never becounterfeited. As soon as the plunger is but partially depressed and thecircuit formed, the wire 0 instantly becomes white hot, and scars thesurface of any paper or other substance it may come in contact with. Asthe wire 0 is very fine it is just sufficient to sear the face of thepaper in such a manner that the mark can never be erased without at thesame time destroying or injuring the paper. When applied to thecancellation of stamps the face of the stamp is spoiled without theslightest injury to the letter to which it is attached.

This invention will be found especially valuable to banks, for thepurpose of preventing the words and figures on checks from being raised.Mica is used in this connection because it is not only a non'conductorof heat, but because it is not burned by the wire.

Ivory or bone is used as a backing for the mica because they are tough,can be made of any degree of thickness, and are non-condoctors ofelectricity.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- 1. The platinum wire 0,secured to its faceplate bymeans of the loops 1, which have their endscome in contact with the rods 0, as shown.

2. In a canceling device, a fixed face or bedplate, placed on a planewith the face of the stampor plunger, a platinum wire, 0, attachments toa battery, and a circuit-closer that completes the circuit, so as toheat the wirebefore it comes in contact with the paper, as specified.

3. A plate of mica, .9, attached to the lower side of the plunger, incombination with a platinum wire, 0, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a plate of ivory, bone, or other non-conductor, n,with a plate of mica, s, and a platinum wire, as shown.

5. The combination of the base 6, rodsa,

tips 9 h, and wires 17 the wire j being made" to act as acircuit-closely su bstantiallyas specie I fied.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing I l have hereunto set myhand this24th day of November, 1876.

Witnesses: t

Row. M. BARR, FRANK M. BUBNHAM.

THEODORE TAYLOR.

